Assemblage and pack of self-processing photographic film units

ABSTRACT

A film-assemblage and pack containing a plurality of selfprocessing film units adapted to be exposed and processed in sequence. Each film unit includes a first or photosensitive sheet and a second or process sheet, which sheets are separated during exposure and are brought into superposition for removal from the camera and for processing. The film units are connected within the assemblage or pack by an arrangement of leaders, only one of which is accessible from the camera exterior after each exposure. Superpositioning, processing and withdrawal of the sheets is effected through a &#39;&#39;&#39;&#39;lost-motion&#39;&#39;&#39;&#39; type of connector that first permits and then prevents relative movement between the sheets as a respective leader is withdrawn from the camera. Simultaneously with such withdrawal, the leader associated with the next successive film unit automatically is brought into the position where it will be accessible from the camera exterior for the next exposure and processing sequence.

United States Patent N erwin [54] ASSEMBLAGE AND PACK OF SELF-PROCESSING PHOTOGRAPHIC FILM 51 May 2, 1972 Primary Examiner-Samuel S;Matthews Assistant Examiner-Fred L. Braun Attorney-Roben W. Hampton andJ. Addison Mathews [57] ABSTRACT A film-assemblage and pack containing aplurality of selfproces sing film units adapted to be exposed andprocessed in sequence. Each film unit includes a first or photosensitivesheet and a second or process sheet, which sheets are separated duringexposure and are brought into superposition for removal from the cameraand for processing. The film units are connected within the assemblageor pack by an arrangement of leaders, only one of which is accessiblefrom the camera exterior after each exposure. Superpositioning,processing and withdrawal of the sheets is effected through alost-motion type of connector that first permits and then preventsrelative movement between the sheets as a respective leader is withdrawnfrom the camera. Simultaneously with such withdrawal, the leaderassociated with the next successive film unit automatically is broughtinto the position where it will be accessible from the camera exteriorfor the next exposure and processing sequence.

11 Claims, 13 Drawing Figures Patented May 2, 1972 3 Sheets-Sheet 1HUBERT NERWIN INVENTOR.

WMUM

ATTORNEYS Patented May 2, 1972 3,659,511

3 Sheets-Sheet 5 FIG." FIG.I3

78 HUBERT NERWIN INVENTOR.

77 BY Mam ATTORNEYS 1. Field of the Invention The present inventionrelates to photography and more particularly to self-processing filmunits and to film assemblages and/or packs containing a plurality ofsuch units.

2. Description of the Prior Art Assemblages or packs of self-processingfilm units are well known in the photographic art and generally comprisea plurality of film units each including a photosensitive sheet, animage transfer or receiving sheet, and a rupturable pod of processingfluid positionable between the sheets. The photosensitive and transfersheets. initially are arranged in separate stacks in one or" more camerachambers, with the photosensitive sheets arranged behind the objectivefor successive exposure and for transportinto superposition with acorresponding transfer sheet. The resulting .sandwichthen is removedfrom the camera between a pair of juxtaposed pressure applying membersthat rupture the pod and distribute the processingfluid, thus initiatingdevelopment of the exposed photosensitive sheet and effecting migrationof the developed image to the transfer sheet.

Early types of such film assemblages and packs, as disclosed for examplein US. Pat. No. 2,669,l68, issuedin the name of E. H. Land on Feb. 16,1954, included a plurality of externally accessible sequentiallynumbered pulling leaders for superposing the photosensitive and transfersheets and for removing the resulting unit or sandwich from the camera.Each pulling leader was coupled to a photosensitive'sheet and wasthreaded through an opening in-the leading end of a correspondingtransfer sheet to provide a lost-motion 'type connection between thesheets. With such a connection; pulling a selected leader from thecamera first advances one of the sheets relative to the other, untilthey are brought into registration, and then moves both of the sheets asa unit through the pressure applying members and from the camera.

While'the above type of assemblage has certain advantages and isbelieved satisfactory for its intended purpose, it also suffers frommany disadvantages. By way of example only, a plurality of leadersextend from the camera at most times during its operation, and such anarrangement invariably either interferes with the effective operation ofthe pressure applying means, or requires a complicated and separate setof such pressure means for each film unit. Moreover, the problem ofmultiple leadersbetween therolle'rs maybe even further aggrevatedbecause the number of such leaders changes as the units are exposed andprocessed, thus making it difficult to maintain the applied pressureconstant for all the film units. Additionally, since all the leadersalways are accessible outside the camera, accidents are bound to occurwhere the photographer accidentally withdraws the wrong leader, wastingthe corresponding film unit and possibly jamming or otherwise damagingthe remaining units.

Of course, other similar units and assemblages have been designed thatdo not suffer from all of the above problems. In US. Pat. No. 2,947,816,issued Feb. 14, 1950 in the name of J. Greenbalgh et al., connectors ofthe lost-motion type are disclosed wherein no more than one such leaderis accessible from the camera'exterior at any particular time. However,these other types also present many problems often even moreunacceptable than those described above. In the above-mentioned U.S.Pat. No. 2,947,816, for example, manually threading of the nextsuccessive leader is necessary after each exposure and processingoperation. i

More recent film packs have attempted to eliminate these and otherproblems by means of a system requiring two leaders or pullingoperations for each film unit. As shown for example in US. Pat. No.3,080,805 issued in thename of J. A. Hamilton on Mar. 12, 1963, removalof each film unit in such a pack causes a supplemental leader or tabofthe next film unit to emerge partially from the camera. After one of thephotosensitive sheets is exposed, accessible supplemental leaderorpulltab is withdrawn manually and in turn moves a primary leader of thatfilm unit between a single set of pressureapplying members to a positionaccessible from the camera exterior. By then grasping and pulling on theprimary leader, the exposed photosensitive and transfer sheets arewithdrawn from the camera to initiate processing, and, simultaneously,the supplemental leader or pull-tab of the next film unit automaticallyis brought into the aforementioned accessible position. This type offilm construction eliminates many problems associatedwith a multiplicityof leaders always extending from the camera, but increases the numberand complexity of film and camera components and poses additionalassembly problems associated with interleaving the supplemental leadersbetween the film units. Furthermore, it requires a somewhat confusingmanipulation of two different types of leaders for each film unit, andadds to the waste pieces that must be discarded after each exposure.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is an object of the present invention toovercome most or all of the abovementioned problems by providing afilm'assemblage and pack wherein only one leader need extend through thecamera pressure applying means at the time the leader is grasped toadvance a film unit.

It is a further object ofthe present inventionto provide such anassemblage. or pack wherein withdrawal of one unit from the cameraautomatically positions a leader of the next successive unit between thepressure means and preferably in a position accessible fromthe cameraexterior.

I Still afurther object is to provide such a film unit wherein thenumber of leaders between the pressure means at the time the units areadvanced therethrough is constant regardless of the remaining number ofunits in the assemblage.

In accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention, afilm assemblage or pack includes units each having a first orphotosensitive element and a second process or coverelement-interconnected by leaders for successively registering orsuperposing the elements and fortransporting the elements preferably tothe camera exterior for processing. Each leader-is attached to one ofthe two film elements and extends therefrom through an opening, such asa cut-out portion or slot,.in the other or corresponding element toprovide a lost-motion type of connection therebetween. Through thisconnection the leader. is adapted for moving one of the elementsrelative to the other until they are brought into registration and thenfor transporting the elements in unison as an integrated sandwich orunit. As'each unit is pulled from the assemblage the leader of the nextsuccessive unit automatically is advanced to a position extending fromthe assemblage where it can be grasped to advance and superpose theelements of the next successive unit. Positioning of each successiveleader between camera pressure members thus 'may be effectedautomatically, without manipulation of a supplemental leader, and onlyone leader need be made available extending from between the pressuremembers at the time that one leader is grasped to advance a film unit.Moreover, the number of leaders extending between the members isconstant during withdrawal of the units regardless of the number ofunits remaining in the assemblage. Thus, effective operation of themembers is not prejudiced by a progressively decreasing plurality ofleaders between members. Various means for practicing the invention andother advantages and novel features thereof will be apparent from thefollowing detailed description of illustrative preferred embodimentsofthe invention, reference being made to the accompanying drawings inwhich like reference characters denote like elements.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a schematic cross-sectional view of a camera loaded with aself-processing film pack in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a plan view of one of the film units incorporated in the filmpack depicted in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a plan view of the second or process sheet of the film unitshown in FIG. 2;

j FIG. 4 is a fragmentary plan view of the pulling leader of the filmunit shown in FIG. 2;

FIG. 5 is a plan view of an alternate second sheet embodimentcorresponding generally to the one shown in FIG. 3;

FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view of the film pack illustrated in FIG. 1showing the mask or dark slide in the process of being withdrawn;

FIG. 7 corresponds to FIG. 6 and shows the film pack with thephotosensitive sheet of the first available film unit partially moved tothe position at which it is superimposed with the corresponding coversheet;

FIG. 8 corresponds to FIGS. 6 and 7 and shows the sandwichedphotosensitive and second sheets of the first available film unit beingwithdrawn together from the film pack;

FIG. 9 is a cross-sectional view of a film pack comprising an alternateembodiment of the invention;

FIG. 10 is a plan view of a film unit of the film pack shown in FIG. 9;

FIG. 1 l is an enlarged plan view of one of the slot membersincorporated in the film unit shown in FIG. 10;

FIG. 12 is a cross-sectional view of another version of a film pack ofthe same general type shown in FIGS. 9-1 1; and

FIG. 13 is a plan view of an alternate form of slot member for use inthe film pack depicted in FIG. 12.

5 DESCRIPTION OF THE ILLUSTRATIVE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT The illustrativefilm pack shown in FIGS. 1-8 of the accompanying drawings comprises arigid generally rectangular casing 21 provided with a rectangularexposure opening 22 in its front wall 23 and with an elongate slot 24 inits end wall 25. A flat pressure plate 26 is supported within the casingbehind exposure opening 22 and is biased toward the front wall of thecasing by a resilient leaf spring 27 attached to a stationary supportmember 28; thereby dividing the interior of the casing into a first orfront compartment 29 and a second or back compartment 31. v

For explanatory purposes, the film pack illustrated in FIGS. 1-8 isshown initially loaded with only two film units 32a and 32b, but itshould be apparent that more than two such film units would normally beprovided and that they would be contained more compactly in a forward torearward direction than shown in the drawings. The two film units aresubstantially identical except perhaps for the lengths of their pullingleaders and are shown with their respective components identified by thesame reference numerals followed by either the suffix a or b todesignate the corresponding film unit 32a and 32b.

As illustrated in FIGS. 2, 3, and 4, each film unit includes a first orphotosensitive sheet 33 provided with a short trailing strip 34 and witha photosensitive front surface 35 opposite its back surface 36 shown inFIG. 2. After the photosensitive front surface of each sheet 33 has beenexposed, that sheet is moved so that its exposed from surface is inface-to-face relation with the front surface 37 of a cover, process orsecond sheet 38 of the same film unit. The front surface of each coversheet, in turn, is provided with a rupturable processing-fluid pod 39,aframe member or mask 41 and a fluid trap or absorber pad 42. The twosheets 33 and 38 are adapted'to be moved into registration orsuperposition between a pair of pressure members which will exertsufficient pressure on pod 39 to rupture the pod and distribute theprocessing fluid between the sheets in the region thereof bounded by theframe member and the absorption pad, the latter being adapted to absorbor trap excess processing fluid.

As previously mentioned, the processing fluid initiates development ofthe image on the exposed photosensitive surface and causes the image totransfer to a receiving or mordant layer in either the photosensitive orcover sheet to provide the finished photograph. More detailedexplanations of the construction and functions of the various elementscomprising the illustrative photosensitive sheets and cover sheets havebeen omitted from the present disclosure inasmuch as such details arenot necessary to understanding the present invention and are readilyavailable from a number of patents or applications relating to analogousself-processing film units, for example, copending US. patentapplication Ser. No. 869,189 titled PI-IOTOGRAPHIC FILM UNIT FOR DIFFUSION TRANSFER PROCESSING filed on Oct. 24, 1969, now abandoned, in thename of C. R. Barr et al., and the abovementioned US. Pat. No.3,080,805.

As shown at numeral 43 in FIGS. 2 and 4, each film unit includes a paperpulling leader or tab comprising a leading end portion 44 and anelongate trailing tongue 45 which is connected to the leading end of thecorresponding photosensitive sheet and projects through a transverseslot or cut-out 46 in the leading end of the corresponding cover orprocess sheet. Accordingly, it will be apparent that the pulling leadercan draw the photosensitive sheet toward the cover sheet without movingthe latter until the photosensitive sheet is superimposed with the coversheet, whereupon both sheets can be pulled together by the pullingleader due to the fact that the leading end of the photosensitive sheetis too wide to pass through slot 46 in the cover sheet. Altemately, asshown in FIG. 5, the cover member can be formed with a modified form oftransverse of C-slot 47 that is openat the center of the leading end ofthat sheet, thereby achieving the same lost motion connection betweenthe two sheets but allowing the cover sheet to be assembled to thepulling leader after the leader has been attached to the photosensitivesheet. Such a design is permitted by the fact that little strength isadded to the connection by the cover sheet portions defining the middleof slot 46. Thus, it has been found that the modified slot illustratedin FIG. 5 provides approximately as strong a connection as that of FIGS.2 and 3. i I

When the film pack is initially assembled, as shown in FIG. 1, the twofilm units are folded together with an opaque paper mask strip 48 andare installed in the film pack casing with the twophotosensitive sheetsfacing forwardly in the front casing compartment and with the two coversheets facing forwardly in the back casing compartment. Opaque maskstrip 48 is substantially the same width as sheet 33 and completelyobscures the exposure opening' 22 to prevent light from entering thefilm pack casing through that opening. Beyond the exposure opening, theleading portion of the mask strip extends around the interior of thecasing and projects through slot 24 therein between two flexible lightbarrier strips 49. The trailing end of the mask strip and thecorresponding ends of trailing strips 34a and 34b are attached topressure plate 26 by a staple 51 to temporarily maintain them in theirrespective positions shown in FIG. 1. Initially, the leading end portion44 of pulling leader 43a is folded between cover sheet 38a and theadjacent portion of mask strip 48 and is connected at its tip to thelatter by a pressure sensitive adhesive or the like to provide aseparable or strip joint of connection 52a Similarly, the leading end ofpulling leader 43b is folded between cover sheet 38b and the adjacentportion of the tongue of pulling leader 43a and is connected to thattongue in the same manner at joint 52b.

To load the film pack into the camera 53 shown in FIG. 1, the cameracover door 54 is opened and the film pack is installed in chamber 55 inthe camera body member 56 with body member lip 57 received in exposureopening 22 to provide a light-tight joint between the interior of thefilm pack casing and the camera bellows 58. When the camera door isclosed and latched by an appropriate latch member, not shown, a leafspring 59 on the door biases the film pack forwardly against theadjacent surface of the camera body member to locate the inner surfaceof front wall member 23 in coincidence with a focal plane of the cameralens system supported in lens housing 61. Additionally, closing thecover door brings a rotatable pressure roller 62 mounted thereon intocontact with the leading end of the mask strip directly opposite springloaded pressure pad 63 mounted in the camera body member.

After the camera has been loaded, the photographer grasps the end of themask strip protruding from the camera through opening 64 and pulls itaway from the camera. This causes the trailing end of the mask strip totear free from staple 51 so that the mask strip can be withdrawn as thatstaple maintains the two photosensitive sheets in their respectiveinitial positions. Since the leading end of pulling leader 43a isattached to the mask strip, the initial movement of the latter draws theleading end of that pulling leader between roller 62 and pressure pad63. When the leading end of pulling leader 43a has emerged from thecamera to the position shown in FIG. 6, all of the available slack inthat leader has been absorbed so that it cannot move further withoutalso moving the corresponding photosensitive sheet 33a, which is stillsecured to pressure plate 26 by staple 51. The connection 52a betweenthe mask strip and the leading end of pulling leader 43a is made onlystrong enough to ensure that the leading end of the pulling leader iswithdrawn from the camera but not strong enough to pull film unit 32afree of staple 51. This is accomplished by proper selection of the areaand nature of the adhesive bond connecting the pulling leader to themask strip and is facilitated by the fact that the end of the pullingleader is folded back on itself after it emerges from the camera,thereby providing a reverse bend connection which is separated by apeeling force rather than simply by a straight shearing force. After thejoint between the mask strip and pulling leader 43a has been broken orseparated, the photographer continues to pull on the mask strip until itis removed-entirely from the camera. With the mask strip removed,pressure plate 26 biases the photosensitive sheets forwardly so that themarginal regions of sheet 33a bear against the inner surface of thefront casing wall 23 surrounding exposure opening 22, thus locating.

the image area of that sheet in coincidence with a focal plane of thecamera's lens system.

. After sheet 33a has been exposed, the accessible end of pulling leader43a is grasped and pulled in the same manner in which the mask strip wasremoved, thereby causing trailing strip 34a to tear free from staple 51to allow the exposed photosensitive sheet 33a to move toward thecorresponding cover sheet 38a as the pulling leader 43b of film unit 32bis moved between roller 62 and pressure pad 63. After those two sheetshave thus been sandwiched together, the continuing movement of pullingleader 43a causes it to separate from pulling leader 43b in the samemanner described above, without tearing the trailingstrip ofphotosensitive sheet 33b free from staple 51. When the leading end ofphotosensitive sheet 33a reaches slot 46a in cover sheet 38a, bothsheets then move together between roller 62 and pressure pad 63, asshown in FIG. 8, thereby effecting processing of the sheets aspreviously explained. Accordingly, film unit 32a is removed from thecamera, leaving the leading end of pulling leader 43b in an accessibleposition so that it can be employed after sheet 33b is exposed to effectprocessing and withdrawal of film unit 32b. If additional units wereloaded into the casing, it should be obvious that each such unit wouldbe connected to the preceding one by the same type of pulling leaderarrangement in the order that the removal of each film unit would bringthe leading end of the pulling leader of the next film unit intoaccessible position.

FIGS. 9-11 show an alternate embodiment of the invention in which a filmpack generally similar to the one illustrated in FIGS. 1-8 is loadedwith a mask strip 65 and with two film units 66a and 66b. In thisembodiment, however, the respective fluid processing pods 67a and67b arecarried by the extended leading ends of the photosensitive sheets 68aand 68b. Also, intermediate leaders 69a and 69b are connected to theleading ends of the respective cover sheets 71a and 71b and are providedwith corresponding slot members 72a and 72b, one of which is shown inplan view in FIG. 11. The tongue portion 73a of pulling leader 74apasses through transverse slot 75a in slot member 720 and is releasablyconnected to mask strip 65. Similarly, the tongue portion of pullingleader 73b passes through transverse slot 75b in slot member 72b and isreleasably attached to slot member 72a. Accordingly, each of thephotosensitive sheets can be moved independently of the correspondingcover sheet by its pulling leader until those two sheets aresuperimposed, whereupon they are withdrawn between the pressure applyingmembers and separated from the pulling leader of the subsequent filmunit as previously described. However, since the slot members can bemade of plastic or some other material considerably stronger than thecover sheet, this mode of construction provides a strengthenedlost-motion connection between the two sheets of the film unit tominimize the possibility of the photosensitive sheet sliding relative toits cover sheet as those two sheets are pulled together between thepressure applying members.

FIG. 12 shows a modification of the film pack illustrated in FIGS. 9-11in which both the tongue portion 73a of pulling leader 74a and thetapered leading end 76b of pulling leader 74b pass through the slot 75ain slot member 72a. This arrangement allows the tip of pulling leader73b to be releasably attached directly to pulling leader 73a rather thanto slot member 72a, thereby simplifying the production of the filmassemblage. Alternatively, the slot members incorporated in this filmpack embodiment can be of the form illustrated in FIG. 13, comprisingtwo opposed ears 77 which define an open sided transverse slot 78corresponding to slot 47 shown in FIG. 5. It will also be noted that theslot members shown in FIG. 12 are depicted as being folded toward thecasing slot 24 rather than lying in the opposite direction asillustrated in FIG. 9; but it should be understood that this detail isoptional, depending on considerations of simplifying the assembly of thefilm pack unit.

The invention has been described in detail with particular reference toillustrative preferred embodiments thereof, but it will be understoodthat variations and modifications can be effected within the spirit andscope of the invention as described hereinabove and as defined in theappended claims.

Iclaim:

1. A film pack including an assemblage of interconnected self-processingfilm units for use in a camera, the camera having pressure-applyingmembers between which the units are adapted to be withdrawn forinitiating processing of the units, the pack comprising:

a casing for containing said film units and including means throughwhich said units sequentially can be exposed in said casing andwithdrawn from said casing;

first and second units in said casing, each including means definingfirst and second spaced sheets at least a major portion of each of whichare arranged in substantially flat relationship in said casing, one ofsaid sheets including a photosensitive layer located in said casing, andthe other of said sheets being adapted to be registered with said onesheet during processing; said second sheet including means defining anelongate aperture adjacent one end of said sheet; and

leader means interconnecting both of said first and second sheets ofeach unit and said first and second units, said leader means having afirst end connected to said first sheet of said first unit and extendingtherefrom to pass through said aperture in said second sheet of saidfirst unit, said leader means having a second end strippably coupledwithin said'casing to said second unit by means for withdrawing saidsecond leader end from said casing for threading between the camerapressure members and then for stripping said second leader end from saidsecond film unit in response to the withdrawal of said second film unitfrom said casing and between the members.

2. A film assemblage including a plurality of self-processing film unitssequentially removable from the assemblage, at least one of said unitscomprising:

first and second elements, one of said elements including aphotosensitive portion adapted to be exposed and for recording a latentimage representing said exposure, and the other of said elements beingspaced apart from said one element and adapted to be registered withsaid one element, said second element including means defining a cut-outportion;

a leader in said assemblage and having leading and trailing ends, saidtrailing end of said leader being coupled to said first element andextending therefrom through said cutout portion of said second element,said leader being movable relative to said second element in apredetermined direction and by a predetermined amount through saidcut-out portion to transport said first element into registration withsaid second element, and thereafter being substantially immovablerelative to said second element in said predetermined direction fortransporting both of said elements from said assemblage in registration;and

means coupling said leading end of said leader to another of said filmunits for withdrawing said leader from said assemblage and then forseparating said coupling in response to the removal of said another filmunit from the assemblage.

3. An assemblage as claimed in claim 2, wherein said cutout portiondefines an elongated slot bounded on all sides by said second element.

4. An assemblage as claimed in claim 2, wherein said cutout portiondefines a generally C-shaped slot partially open along one side.

5. A film pack comprising:

a generally rectangular box-like casing provided with an elongateopening at one end thereof and with a front wall member including anexposure opening;

a pressure plate within said casing dividing the interior thereof into afirst compartment adjacent said exposure opening and a secondcompartment;

first and second film units, each of which includes a hotosensitivesheet in said first compartment, a second sheet in said secondcompartment, a leader having a trailing portion narrower than one ofsaid sheets and attached at its trailing end to said one sheet, andlost-motion connecting means defining a slot associated with the otherof 45 said sheets, said slot being disposed transversely of said othersheet and being shorter than the width of said one sheet, said trailingportion of said leader being received freely through said slot tothereby allow said leader to move said photosensitive and second sheetsinto sandwiched relation and then to move both of said sheets in unisonby virtue of the inability of said one sheet to pass through said slot;and

means releasably coupling said leading end of said leader of said secondfilm unit to said first film unit at a point remote from said leadingend of said leader of the first film unit to provide an assemblageof-said first and second film units.

6. A film pack according to claim 5 in which said slot defined by saidconnecting means is in said second sheet.

7. A film pack according to claim 5 in which said slot defined by saidconnecting means is open along its center portion to said leading end ofsaid one sheet.

8. A film pack according to claim 5 in which said lost-motion connectingmeans comprises:

a slot member provided with said elongate slot, said slot member beingformed of a material of greater strength than said one sheet; and

a flexible connecting member inseparably connecting said slot memberwith said leading end of said one sheet.

9. A film pack according to claim 8 in which said connectin member comrises plastic material.

%0. A film pac according to claim 8 in which said leading end of saidleader of said second film unit extends through said slot in said slotmember of said first film unit with said leader of said first film unit,said leader of said second film unit being attached at its leading endto said leader of said first film unit at a point remote from saidleading end of said last-mentioned leader by joint means for separatingafter said first film unit is withdrawn from said pack.

11. A film pack according to claim 8 wherein said assemblage includes:

an opaque mask strip defining leading and trailing portions and beinginitially disposed with its trailing portion located between saidexposure opening and said photosensitive sheet of said first film unitwithin said forward casing compartment and with its leading portionextending along the rearward face of said second sheet of said firstfilm unit in said rearward casing compartment and emerging from saidcasing through said elongate opening; and

second coupling means releasably coupling said leading end of saidleader of said first film unit to said mask strip within said casing ata point remote from the leading end of said mask strip.

1. A film pack including an assemblage of interconnected selfprocessingfilm units for use in a camera, the camera having pressure-applyingmembers between which the units are adapted to be withdrawn forinitiating processing of the units, the pack comprising: a casing forcontaining said film units and including means through which said unitssequentially can be exposed in said casing and withdrawn from saidcasing; first and second units in said casing, each including meansdefining first and second spaced sheets at least a major portion of eachof which are arranged in substantially flat relationship in said casing,one of said sheets including a photosensitive layer located in saidcasing, and the other of said sheets being adapted to be registered withsaid one sheet during processing; said second sheet including meansdefining an elongate aperture adjacent one end of said sheet; and leadermeans interconnecting both of said first and second sheets of each unitand said first and second units, said leader means having a first endconnected to said first sheet of said first unit and extending therefromto pass through said aperture in said second sheet of said first unit,said leader means having a second end strippably coupled within saidcasing to said second unit by means for withdrawing said second leaderend from said casing for threading between the camera pressure membersand then for stripping said second leader end from said second film unitin response to the withdrawal of said second film unit from said casingand between the members.
 2. A film assemblage including a plurality ofself-processing film units sequentially removable from the assemblage,at least one of said units comprising: first and second elements, one ofsaid elements including a photosensitive portion adapted to be exposedand for recording a latent image representing said exposure, and theother of said elements being spaced apart from said one element andadapted to be registered with said one element, said second elementincluding means defining a cut-out portion; a leader in said assemblageand having leading and trailing ends, said trailing end of said leaderbeing coupled to said first element and extending therefrom through saidcut-out portion of said second element, said leader being movablerelative to said second element in a predetermined direction and by apredetermined amount through said cut-out portion to transport saidfirst element into registration with said second element, and thereafterbeing substantially immovable relative to said second element in saidpredetermined direction for transporting both of said elements from saidassemblage in registration; and means coupling said leading end of saidleader to another of said film units for withdrawing said leader fromsaid assemblage and then for separating said coupling in response to theremoval of said another film unit from tHe assemblage.
 3. An assemblageas claimed in claim 2, wherein said cut-out portion defines an elongatedslot bounded on all sides by said second element.
 4. An assemblage asclaimed in claim 2, wherein said cut-out portion defines a generallyC-shaped slot partially open along one side.
 5. A film pack comprising:a generally rectangular box-like casing provided with an elongateopening at one end thereof and with a front wall member including anexposure opening; a pressure plate within said casing dividing theinterior thereof into a first compartment adjacent said exposure openingand a second compartment; first and second film units, each of whichincludes a photosensitive sheet in said first compartment, a secondsheet in said second compartment, a leader having a trailing portionnarrower than one of said sheets and attached at its trailing end tosaid one sheet, and lost-motion connecting means defining a slotassociated with the other of said sheets, said slot being disposedtransversely of said other sheet and being shorter than the width ofsaid one sheet, said trailing portion of said leader being receivedfreely through said slot to thereby allow said leader to move saidphotosensitive and second sheets into sandwiched relation and then tomove both of said sheets in unison by virtue of the inability of saidone sheet to pass through said slot; and means releasably coupling saidleading end of said leader of said second film unit to said first filmunit at a point remote from said leading end of said leader of the firstfilm unit to provide an assemblage of said first and second film units.6. A film pack according to claim 5 in which said slot defined by saidconnecting means is in said second sheet.
 7. A film pack according toclaim 5 in which said slot defined by said connecting means is openalong its center portion to said leading end of said one sheet.
 8. Afilm pack according to claim 5 in which said lost-motion connectingmeans comprises: a slot member provided with said elongate slot, saidslot member being formed of a material of greater strength than said onesheet; and a flexible connecting member inseparably connecting said slotmember with said leading end of said one sheet.
 9. A film pack accordingto claim 8 in which said connecting member comprises plastic material.10. A film pack according to claim 8 in which said leading end of saidleader of said second film unit extends through said slot in said slotmember of said first film unit with said leader of said first film unit,said leader of said second film unit being attached at its leading endto said leader of said first film unit at a point remote from saidleading end of said last-mentioned leader by joint means for separatingafter said first film unit is withdrawn from said pack.
 11. A film packaccording to claim 8 wherein said assemblage includes: an opaque maskstrip defining leading and trailing portions and being initiallydisposed with its trailing portion located between said exposure openingand said photosensitive sheet of said first film unit within saidforward casing compartment and with its leading portion extending alongthe rearward face of said second sheet of said first film unit in saidrearward casing compartment and emerging from said casing through saidelongate opening; and second coupling means releasably coupling saidleading end of said leader of said first film unit to said mask stripwithin said casing at a point remote from the leading end of said maskstrip.